TE Strength of Schedule
Tue Jun 11 11:11am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer
Bowers could have big year one
Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the tight end position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to tight ends last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the tight ends with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the tight ends that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.
| TE SOS | ||
| 1. | Cincinnati Bengals | 186.39 |
| 2. | Miami Dolphins | 193.98 |
| 3. | Philadelphia Eagles | 196.38 |
| 4. | Washington Commanders | 197.75 |
| 5. | Houston Texans | 198.15 |
| 6. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 199.18 |
| 7. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 199.68 |
| 8. | New York Giants | 201 |
| 9. | Dallas Cowboys | 201.18 |
| 10. | Los Angeles Rams | 201.38 |
| 11. | Buffalo Bills | 201.39 |
| 12. | Chicago Bears | 201.66 |
| 13. | Arizona Cardinals | 201.76 |
| 14. | New York Jets | 202.56 |
| 15. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 202.86 |
| 16. | Baltimore Ravens | 203.04 |
| 17. | Denver Broncos | 203.95 |
| 18. | Los Angeles Chargers | 204.02 |
| 19. | Atlanta Falcons | 204.25 |
| 20. | Cleveland Browns | 204.59 |
| 21. | New Orleans Saints | 205.62 |
| 22. | Seattle Seahawks | 205.73 |
| 23. | San Francisco 49ers | 206.80 |
| 24. | Indianapolis Colts | 206.89 |
| 25. | Detroit Lions | 207.92 |
| 26. | New England Patriots | 208.23 |
| 27. | Kansas City Chiefs | 210.92 |
| 28. | Tennessee Titans | 211.44 |
| 29. | Green Bay Packers | 212.07 |
| 30. | Minnesota Vikings | 212.23 |
| 31. | Carolina Panthers | 213.66 |
| 32. | Las Vegas Raiders | 213.81 |
A rookie led fantasy tight ends in scoring last year and the top rated rookie tight end this year gets the easiest fantasy schedule for tight end. Brock Browers and the Raiders have the most favorable schedule for tight ends. Sam LaPorta showed last year that a rookie can make an immediate fantasy impact, so don’t discount Browers to have big-time success in year one. He certainly looks the part of an elite tight end.
Another rookie with a good chance to start has the second easiest schedule for tight ends. Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will compete with Tommy Tremble to start, but should emerge and be the top pass-catching tight end. He is looking like a good late-round gamble for fantasy teams.
The Vikings, Packers and Titans round out the top-five most favorable schedules for tight ends. T.J. Hockenson would be looking like a great pick if he wasn’t returning from a major injury. He is no sure thing to play early in the year. But once he is healthy, he could help fantasy teams in a big way once again.
Green Bay is likely to have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft split a lot of the work at tight end, hurting both their value. They could produce some big games along the way, though, making them decent No. 2 fantasy tight ends this season. Both produced well in an expanded role last year.
Lastly, Chin Okonkwo didn’t quite have the breakout season many hoped last year, but he wasn’t bad by any means. Maybe he gets a few more chances this year and has some bigger games along the way with this favorable schedule. He is another decent tight end to grab as your backup.
The teams that top the list for toughest fantasy tight end schedules are teams that haven’t really utilized the tight end much in recent seasons. The Bengals have the toughest schedule followed bye the Dolphins. Mike Gesicki is the starter for the Bengals, but probably isn’t worth the risk with this schedule and the Bengals recent track record with tight ends.
Miami uses their tight ends to block more than anything in their offense. They have the occasional big game, but Jonnu Smith is going to be a risky weekly fantasy play. He would have looked much better landing with a different team.
There are a couple big-time fantasy tight ends that have unfavorable schedules. Dallas Goedert has the third toughest schedule. Goedert can be a little hit or miss to begin with in this offense, so this schedule gives him a little more concern. You might want to pass on him come draft day and go with another elite tight end with a better schedule and more consistency.
Dalton Schultz is the other elite tight end with a top-five unfavorable schedule. Schultz had a big first season with the Texans, becoming a favorite target of C.J. Stroud. He should get the targets this year. But he has a challenging schedule and more to compete with for targets, so his consistency might be a little off this year compared to last.
We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy tight ends. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the tight ends with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big-money contests.
| TE PLAYOFF SOS | ||
| 1. | Atlanta Falcons | 175 |
| 2. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 182.37 |
| 3. | Philadelphia Eagles | 184.73 |
| 4. | Arizona Cardinals | 187.67 |
| 5. | Jacksonville Jaguars | 187.77 |
| 6. | New England Patriots | 189.83 |
| 7. | Miami Dolphins | 190.37 |
| 8. | New Orleans Saints | 191.3 |
| 9. | Los Angeles Rams | 192.17 |
| 10. | Pittsburgh Steelers | 192.43 |
| 11. | Cincinnati Bengals | 196.1 |
| 12. | Detroit Lions | 196.12 |
| 13. | Houston Texans | 196.2 |
| 14. | Indianapolis Colts | 198.97 |
| 15. | Buffalo Bills | 199.63 |
| 16. | Kansas City Chiefs | 203.03 |
| 17. | New York Jets | 204.13 |
| 18. | Carolina Panthers | 205.7 |
| 19. | Baltimore Ravens | 205.9 |
| 20. | Green Bay Packers | 207.7 |
| 21. | Chicago Bears | 213.73 |
| 22. | New York Giants | 214.27 |
| 23. | Seattle Seahawks | 214.72 |
| 24. | Cleveland Browns | 214.97 |
| 25. | Dallas Cowboys | 215.8 |
| 26. | Las Vegas Raiders | 219.4 |
| 27. | Washington Commanders | 220.13 |
| 28. | Denver Broncos | 220.8 |
| 29. | Minnesota Vikings | 221.72 |
| 30. | Tennessee Titans | 223.73 |
| 31. | San Francisco 49ers | 225.53 |
| 32. | Los Angeles Chargers | 228.53 |
The Titans and Vikings are the only two teams with the most favorable fantasy schedule for tight ends during the regular season and playoffs. Hockenson is the intriguing one because he might not be fully healthy until late in the season. So while he might not be a huge fantasy factor for the regular season, Hockenson might be a difference maker in the playoffs.
Okonkwo is looking like a player worth grabbing as a No. 2 fantasy tight end, especially if you have an established starter ahead of him. Okonkwo has a high fantasy ceiling for the coming year because of a schedule that could facilitate a breakout season for him.
The Chargers actually have the best fantasy playoff schedule for tight ends. Donald Parham is the likely starter and has some potential in an offense looking for playmakers in the passing game. This could be his best season to date, making him an intriguing late-round gamble.
George Kittle is the biggest name on the list for top-five favorable fantasy tight end playoff schedules. He is going to produce big and could be even better down the stretch with a schedule setup for success.
The Falcons have the most challenging playoff schedule for fantasy tight ends. This is not good news for Kyle Pitts. He is already a polarizing fantasy player, so this schedule won’t do him any favors to get in good graces with more fantasy owners. Many think he could finally turn things around this year with a new coaching staff in place, but nothing is certain with this situation. Pitts could be a boom or bust pick once again.
The Eagles are the only team on both the top five most difficult fantasy schedules for tight ends for the regular season and playoffs. Goedert is looking like a player you might want to let someone else grab come draft day. There are a lot of good, young options at tight end this year. Going with one of those guys over Goedert might be the play on draft day.
Trey McBride is a favorite for many fantasy owners this year for a breakout season. He had a huge finish to last year and is shooting up draft boards. We wouldn’t avoid him come draft day because he has the fourth toughest fantasy playoff schedule. It is a little bit of a concern, but not a huge red flag for the talented tight end. Maybe just prepare for his numbers to dip a tad during the playoffs.
Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.
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The Paur Report
Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 11
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye should be viewed as a low-end fantasy QB1 heading into Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams. Through five games as the Patriots' starter, Maye has impressed, especially in terms of fantasy football performance. The No. 3 overall pick has scored at least one touchdown in each of his four complete games, including one game with two scores and another with three. Turnovers have been a concern for the rookie, but he makes up for them with impressive rushing production. Maye is averaging 44 rushing yards per start, headlined by an impressive 95 yards on the ground back in Week 9. The Rams have been modest against opposing fantasy quarterbacks this season, leaving Maye in a decent position to fulfill his top-12 quarterback projection.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson faces a consistent struggle for fantasy success -- limited opportunities to kick field goals and extra points. Luckily for him, the opposing Miami Dolphins team, who the Raiders face in Week 11, allow plenty of points to opposing kickers. It could be because they allow teams to drive down the field, but stiffen in the red zone. This would be a perfect situation for Carlson. Still, starting him in fantasy leagues comes with plenty of risk -- he's the 17th ranked kicker on the season, so outside of very deep leagues, there are likely better options to put in your starting lineups. But he's a decent player to start nonetheless.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson ranks as a low-end fantasy RB2 heading into Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams. While Stevenson has struggled with efficiency lately and has seen his fantasy value become largely dependent on touchdowns, the Patriots' lead back has firm control on his role and continues to be a high-volume option on offense. Just last week, he touched the ball 21 times, salvaging a fantasy-relevant performance despite failing to find the end zone. This week, he'll be in a decent position to contribute significant yardage, catch passes, and perhaps score a touchdown against a Rams defense allowing mediocre results to opposing running backs in 2024. Stevenson is a fringe top-24 fantasy running back at the moment.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (foot) practiced in full on Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game versus the Los Angeles Rams. Henry began the week by practicing in a limited capacity because of a foot issue. But the Pats will have the veteran on the field for Week 11. He has had flashes of efficiency, compiling seven or more catches three times this season. However, outside of that, Henry has been relatively quiet. But with notable tight ends like Dalton Kincaid (knee) and Sam LaPorta (shoulder) sidelined, Henry could find a place in fantasy lineups in Week 11, even more so if George Kittle (hamstring) doesn't suit up.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker will do his best to get things into gear against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11. He hasn't scored double-digit PPR fantasy points since Weeks 3-4, where he had a nice duo of fantasy-relevant games. Since then, he's managed just nine receptions and 85 receiving yards despite being targeted 22 times. He's rushed twice for 18 yards in that stretch. After initially seemingly breaking out, he's fallen back to Earth. The departure of former lead WR Davante Adams likely means Tucker has to face better coverage from opposing teams. That could be making it harder for him to succeed. He's not worth rostering in the vast majority of leagues.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas has emerged as one of quarterback Drake Maye's most dependable options on offense. As a result, Douglas generates enough volume to give himself legitimate WR3/FLEX appeal in full-PPR and even some half-PPR leagues. Over the last two weeks, Douglas has totaled 14 targets, 11 catches, and 85 yards all despite playing fewer than 50 percent of the offensive snaps last Sunday. This week, the Patriots face the Los Angeles Rams, whose defense has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. They're a little better against slot receivers (like Douglas) than perimeter receivers, but the Patriots' 23-year-old pass-catcher should be trusted as a WR3 in most fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers should remain a sure lock for fantasy football starting lineups when he plays against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11 of NFL action. The rookie pass-catcher has had a stellar season so far, especially considering the low production of the offense he's on. He's caught 57 of his 73 targets for 580 yards and two touchdowns, and while his scoring number leaves something to be desired, his value in PPR leagues can't be understated. This hasn't been a great year for tight end production, and he's been a nice reprieve from the misery many fantasy managers face. Set and forget him in your lineups. He's the TE2 in PPR despite having been on bye in Week 10.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely (hamstring) practiced in full on Friday and doesn't carry an injury designation heading into the AFC North clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 24-year-old was limited at practice on Wednesday because of a hamstring issue. However, he's good to go after logging full sessions on Thursday and Friday. Likely began the 2024-25 campaign by catching nine of his 12 targets for 111 yards and a touchdown in the Week 1 loss to the Chiefs, He found the end zone twice in the overtime win over the Bengals back in October. Yet, he hasn't done much else this season. With Mark Andrews returning to form, Likely has no place in fantasy lineups in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has had back to back games of double-digit PPR fantasy point performances, racking up 17.2 points in Week 8 and following that up with 18.5 in Week 9. He'll be well-rested after his Week 10 bye when he faces the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in a Week 11 contest featuring two teams with losing records. Meyers will square off at least part of the time with highly-accomplished cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a must-win for Miami, who has a glimmer of playoff hope left. It will be a tough test, but the sixth-year pro should be started in PPR leagues due to his excellent target volume -- he's had 18 targets in his last two games. Treat him as a WR2 for fantasy purposes.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White has lost his starting job to lead back Alexander Mattison, and it doesn't look like that trend will reverse ahead of a Week 11 matchup with the Miami Dolphins. White had just six carries for 10 yards in Week 9, salvaging his fantasy day (somewhat) with a touchdown rush. Aside from the occasional score, he's not a great option in fantasy leagues considering his poor efficiency and lack of pass-catching upside. He's a low-upside handcuff, and that wouldn't change barring an unexpected shake-up in the backfield. Fantasy managers can hope he steps up his game, but after nine contests, things are much more fixed in this running back room.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) was limited at practice on Friday. However, the wideout doesn't carry an injury designation heading into Sunday's matchup with the Detroit Lions. Davis finished with 45 receptions for 746 yards and two touchdowns last season while with the Buffalo Bills. But he's struggled during the 2024-25 campaign, amassing only 19 grabs for 236 yards and two scores. With Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) sidelined and Mac Jones back under center in Week 11, things aren't expected to improve for Davis, especially with a tough matchup on the horizon.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison could be a nice RB3/FLEX play in Week 11, when his team will take on the Miami Dolphins. He's set to be the starting RB for his team for the fourth time in a game with his now-backup Zamir White, after taking over the starting job due to White's poor performances. Mattison has nice pass-catching upside and four scores on the season, meaning in deeper PPR leagues, he's a solid flex player. His usage will likely come down to game script, but there's enough upside to chase in leagues with lots of teams, where finding any edge possible is a necessity. He's averaging just under 3.3 yards per carry on the season, though, so in non-PPR leagues, he's better off as a bench stash.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II has been benched twice this season, yet he was named the starter for his Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins by head coach Antonio Pierce. 2024 hasn't been kind to the sixth-year pro -- he's tossed just six touchdowns, some in garbage time, while throwing eight interceptions and losing four fumbles. Turning the ball over more than twice for every meaningful score isn't a recipe for success. The Dolphins defense is coming off a surprisingly good effort against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. Minshew faces an uphill battle and is only a starting option in deep 2QB leagues in fantasy football.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie running back Audric Estime could be poised to be the Broncos' leading rusher for the second straight week on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11. Head coach Sean Payton said before last week's loss to the division-rival Kansas City Chiefs that the team was looking to get Estime more involved, but it was a surprise to see him lead the backfield with 14 carries for 53 yards, while Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin combined for three carries for 13 yards. The 21-year-old rookie is expected to continue to see more reps against Atlanta on Sunday, making him the best fantasy option in Denver's backfield as an RB3/flex. The bad news for Estime's fantasy value is he hasn't been targeted through the air over 47 offensive snaps in his six games in 2024, likely making him touchdown-dependent on the ground.
From RotoBaller
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will square off with the Seattle Seahawks in an important Week 11 divisional matchup on Sunday. In Week 10, Purdy was quite good, hanging 353 passing yards and two touchdowns on the Buccaneers in Tampa while leaving a zero in the turnovers column. The matchup against the Seahawks is neutral, as Seattle's defense checks in at the exact median in fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs. But in a Week 6 matchup in Seattle, Purdy threw three touchdowns -- two to George Kittle and one to Deebo Samuel Sr. -- with no interceptions. Purdy should have his full complement of weapons, with running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), wideout Jauan Jennings (ankle), and Kittle (hamstring) expected to play after spending some time limited in practice this week. The former "Mr. Irrelevant" is being ranked as a top-5 option in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is on a heater over his last three games heading into a Week 11 matchup against the visiting Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Sutton was not targeted in a Week 7 win over the New Orleans Saints, but since then, he has caught 21 of his 30 targets for 292 yards and a touchdown in three games against the Panthers, Ravens and Chiefs. The 29-year-old has only three touchdowns through 10 weeks in 2024 after catching a career-high 10 TD passes last year, but his fantasy stock is on the rise with WR2 upside this weekend against a Falcons secondary that has surrendered the ninth-most half-PPR fantasy points per game to pass-catchers. Sutton averages 10.7 half-PPR points (tied for 29th among wideouts) but also ranks ninth with 77 targets, giving him a solid fantasy floor with plenty of volume as Denver's unquestioned WR1.
From RotoBaller
Wide receiver Kalif Raymond heads into Week 11 against the Jaguars after being held without a target in the Detroit Lions' 26-23 victory over the Texans in Week 10. Jameson Williams' return from suspension seemingly reduced Raymond's snap count last week. However, with tight end Sam LaPorta now sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Raymond could see an increase in opportunities this week. Jacksonville's defense has struggled against wide receivers this season, potentially providing a favorable matchup. Despite this, Raymond's limited production14 receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns over nine gamesmakes him a risky streaming option with likely better choices on waiver wires.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates heads into a favorable Week 11 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars as a solid fantasy option. He remains perfect on field goals this season, converting all 14 attempts, including two critical long-distance kicks in the Week 10 victory over the Texans. While head coach Dan Campbell's aggressive fourth-down strategies may limit Bates' field goal opportunities, the Lions' offensive firepower ensures a steady flow of extra point attempts, with Bates successfully making 32 out of 33 so far. Given Detroit's league-leading projected team total for the week, Bates is poised to deliver strong fantasy production against a Jaguars defense allowing over 26 points per game.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has a nice matchup on his hands in Week 11 on Sunday against the visiting Atlanta Falcons. Nix has come a long way since a slow start to his NFL career and is averaging 16.6 fantasy points per game through the first 10 weeks, which ranks 15th at the position, right behind Patrick Mahomes. Not only has the Oregon product improved as a passer as the year has gone on, but he also ranks fifth among QBs with 290 rushing yards and four TDs. The Falcons defense, meanwhile is vulnerable, allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to QBs, including 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions in 10 games. They've allowed 223.4 passing yards per game, which is ninth-most in the NFL. Since Week 4, Nix has thrown 10 touchdown passes with only two picks. There's real QB1 upside for Nix this weekend.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams faces a favorable matchup in Week 11 against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense vulnerable to big plays. Williams returned to action last week with a quiet performance, catching three passes for 53 yards and finishing outside the Top-40 wideouts. This season, Williams has accumulated more air yards than Amon-Ra St. Brown in half of their starts togetherwith eight deep targets over seven games. However, he hasn't seen a red-zone look since Week 2, which limits his scoring opportunities. This week's matchup offers upside, as Jacksonville allows the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers and the most 20+ yard receptions per game.
From RotoBaller
